← News feed Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

The picture froze. What should I do?translated

September 28, 2026 · 1 min read

Reader question:

Hello! I have a large art painting in my room. Scene: the battle of Archangel Michael with the ancient serpent. In the eyes of the Archangel, anatomically correct, artifacts appeared in the form of dots/spots, clearly reminiscent of tears. They also run down the cheek. How should we feel about this? Miracle? Sign? Physics? Should I do something?

Mikhail

Priest's answer:

Priest Victor NIKISHOV

God bless you!

Most likely, you encountered a physical phenomenon rather than a sign or miracle. Don't rush to mystical conclusions.

Modern oil paints are a complex chemical system. Over time, processes occur in them that can lead to the appearance of drops and “tears” on the surface.

Here are some possible reasons:

Oil migration. Modern paints use different types of oils (safflower, sunflower), which can behave unstable. Over time, part of the oil separates from the pigment and appears on the surface in the form of drops. This is called "exudation" - the release of liquid from the paint.

Soap formations. Fatty acids contained in oil react with metals found in pigments (zinc, lead). Formed...

Source: Журнал ФОМА · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (1) 🌐 Show original

Isabelle Martin

I also had an oil painting hanging in my living room, bought ten years ago at a flea market in Nice. A couple of years later, the same greasy drops appeared in the dark places; the priest in our parish said that it was just oil coming out. It’s better not to invent signs, and if it bothers you, take the icon to the church for consecration, and simply wipe this picture with a dry cloth.